Hoping for a Better 2014

I had a few ups and downs in 2013 but things always managed to level out. I was able to get back into my routine for consistently posting updates to the blog but I’ve fallen behind over the last month or so.

My uncle, who lived in Florida and to whom I was very close, came down with what seemed to be a cold in October and was admitted to the hospital with what was then thought to be pneumonia. He seemed to be doing ok but then began having respiratory problems and had to be sedated. Over the course of a few days my family and I flew into town to check up on him and offer moral support. Unfortunately, my uncle passed away in the early morning hours of 11/12/13, the day after we’d all arrived.

While I’d originally planned to only visit for a few days, I ended up spending two weeks in Florida. The time was spent informing family members and friends of my uncle’s passing, running around making funeral arrangements, and filing paperwork in an attempt to find out what caused my uncle’s illness and respiratory failure. Given that his cause of death was unknown, an autopsy had to be requested which resulted in the funeral being delayed until the week before Thanksgiving. (His cause of death is still currently unknown.) My uncle’s passing would have been heartbreaking to my family at any time of year but is especially difficult because it happened right before the holidays.

Prior to my uncle’s passing I’d been spending a lot of time thinking about things I’d like to do with this blog and my social media profiles. However, I haven’t felt very motivated or sociable over the last few weeks. I’m hoping that I’ll be feeling a bit better once the holidays have passed and we’re into the new year.

Admittedly, this post is a downer but I wanted to offer an explanation for my inactivity and also vent a bit. With that being said, I sincerely hope that you all enjoy the holidays and cherish the time spent with your family and friends. Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2014!